Apparatus for the manufacture of gas



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. E. SMITH;

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS. No. 397,397. atented Feb. 5, 1889. Fl A Wfinesses' N PETERS. Phuwmho u hor, wminglon, D, C.

(No Model.) I 3- SheetsShee-t s. R. H. SMITH;

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFAGTURE 0F GAS. No. 397,397. Patented Feb. 5, 1 88 All/" v5 n. I n HWHIIWHHH "MINIMUM! f IHHH lJNiTnn STATES PATENT Urrrcn.

ROLAND II. SMITH, O'F"Pll".lSl3URG, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,397, dated February 5, 1889.

Application filed December 16, 1887. Serial No. 258,009. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROLAND H. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the countybf Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in apparatus for the manufacture of gas for heating and illun'iinating purposes.

In many localities coal suitable for the manufacture of gas cannot be obtained eX- cept at great cost, and it has long been a desideratum to obtain some substitute for the coal and means for economically working such substitute or substitutes for the production of gas.

In various localities large quantities of refuse of various descriptions are to be had for the cost of handling, which if properly treated could be converted into gas suitable for various purposes. Among such substances may be mentioned spent tan-bark, coal-dust, sawdust, and the like; and it is the object of my invention to utilize such substances in the manufacture of gas, as more fully hereinafter specified.

It is a well-known fact that in order to convert any suitable gas-producing substance into gas a certain degree of heat is required. This heat can be obtained in various Ways most generally by the combustion of coal, coke, or natural gas. here one generating-chamber is used it is necessary to first get the first gencrating-chamber to the-proper temperature, after which the air-supply is shut off and the material to be converted into gas is introduced and subjected to the action of the heat so long as the temperature is sufficient for the production of the gas, the gas be ing run off to the holders being purified on its way in the usual manner. hen the generator becomes so much reduced in temperature as to no longer supply the heat necessary for the generation of the gas, it becomes necessary to reheat it, and during the time of reheating the production of gas is interrupted, and such interruption has been obviated by employing two or more generators, using the same alternately, so as to produce gas in one while the other is being heated, and vice versa.

My invention. relates to the peculiar construction and arrangement of such a system of generators as more fully hereinafter set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional plan view of an improved plant for carrying out my invention. Fig. 2 represents a transverse vertical sectional view of the apparatus taken through the generators. Fig. 3 represents a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of the plant. Fig. 4 represents a detached sectional view of one of the sections through which fuel or solid gas-producing material is inserted. Fig. 5 represents a sectional view of a modification of the generator, showing means for removing the waste. Fig. 6 represents another modification of the generators for the same purpose.

The letter A indicates the heating-furnace, which is constructed of ln-ick-work or other suitable material and provided with a refractory lining. The said chamber is provided with a series of grates and ash-pits and at the top with a series of tubular sections, B, having suitable covers through which the fuel is introduced. The furnace is also provided with suitable doors through which cinders and ashes may be removed.

Back of the furnace are located the gas-generating chambers O, which communicate with the furnace by means of openings, which may be closed by the sliding dampers E. The said chambers are preferably formed in a cylindrical structure having a refractory lining and divided into two compartments by means of a refractory partition, F, each chamber being partly filled with a bed of briclework, G, the bricks of which are laid with alternating open spaces between them,forming a mass of heat-absorbent material, through which the products of combustion from the furnace may pass, and which serves to store up the heat for the generation of gas, as more fully hereinafter specified. The generators are provided at the top with tubular sections and covers H, similar to the sections B, through winch solid gas-producin g material may be inserted.

The letter I indicates a circular pipe connecting'at its ends with the respective generators, and R two slide-valves, by means ofwhich communication with either generator and the pipe maybe cut off when desired.

Ii indicates a pipe leading from the pipe I to the niritiers and hohlers, wherein the gas is stored.

The letter N indicates the smoke-stack of the furnace, which communicates with the generators by means of suitable passages, which are controlled by valves N, so that either generator can be thrown into communication with the stack, or vice versa. \Vithin the smoke-stack is located a vertical tubular boiler, P, from which extend the steam-pipes R to the respectivegenerators. The pipes pass in at the forward portions of the generator, and are carried back and forth in the same, so as to superheat the steam before escaping at their extremities.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 5 and 0 of the drawings the generators are provided with passages S, preferably constructed. with slanting floors S and doors T, through which the refuse, after the generation of the gas, may be discharged.

The-letter U indicates a direct-draft flue leading from the fuel chamber or furnace to the smoke-stack. The said flue is provided with a damper, V, by means of which coinmnnication between the fuel-chamber and stack may be opened and closed at will.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The valves E J of the generatiiig-chamber O to the right being opened, fuel-such as coke or coals-is placed in the furnace and ignited and allowed to burn until the said chamber 0 is highly heated. \Vhen the said chamber 0 is properly heated, the valves E and N thereof are closed and the corresponding valves E and N of the gen crating-chamber C at the left are opened. Hydrocarbon fuel is then fed into the chamber 0 at the right, andthe valve R thereof opened, the gas generated therefrom passing through the right branch of the pipe I and the pipe L to the holder. \Vhen the chamber C at the right is so reduced in temperature as to no longer produce gas, the valves E and N thereof are again opened and the heating again commenced, the correspondingvalves E and N of the generating-chamber C at the left being again closed and the valve R thereof opened. The last mentioned chamber having become heated, hydrocarbon-gasproducing material is then introduced into the same and the generation ofgas continued therein. The gencrating-chambers are thus alternately used, producing a continuous current of gas in large volume which passes to the holder. During the process of generation superheated steam may be admitted to the generator through the pipes R, and, if desired, liquid hydrocarbon may be admitted through the pipes \V. After the bed of coal in the furnace A becomes incandescent, garbage or other refuse is introduced into said furnace, the valve N of the generating-chamber O for the time connecting with the furnace A is closed and the valve R thereof opened. The volatile constituents of the garbage or refuse will then pass into the generating-ehanlber last mentioned, where they will be decomposed into a :li xed gas and an yearbonic-acid gas deoxi dized, the resulting gases passing on through one of the branches of the pipe I to the holder. After the vapors and gases have thus been eliminated the valve N is opened and the valve R closed, the incandescent carbonized portions of the garbage or waste serving as fuel for heating the chamber.

1 lavin g thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The eombinatioi'l, in a gas-gt'merating f urnace, of the furnace, the horizontal generating-chambers, and the exhaust-pipe leading to the holder, the said gencrating-chambers being provided with valve-passages leading from the fu el-chamber an d to the smoke-stack, and the exhaust-pipe being provided with. suitable val ves,whereby the generating-chambers may be alternately heated and alternately employed for the generation of the gas in an uninterrupted volume, substantially as speclied.

2. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a furnace, the horizontal gen erat-ingchambers communicating by valved passages with the fuel-chamber of the said furnace and the smoke-stack, the exhaust-pipe communicating with the gen erating-chambers by means of valved passages, and the tubular sections B and II and their covers, these tubular sections leading into the furnace and generatingchambers, substantially as and for the p u rpose set forth.

In a gas-generatin apparatus, the combination of a furnace, the generating-chambers comnninicating with the said furnace by means of valved passages, the exhaust-pipe communicating with the respective generating-chambers by means of valved passages, the smoke-stack commnnicatin g with the generating-chambers by means of valved passages, the steam-boiler in the smoke stack, and the steam-pipe R, leading from the boiler to the respective generating chambers, substantiall y as described.

t. The combination of a furnace, gas-generating chambers connnunicating with the furnace by means of valved passages, the eX- hanst-pipe communicating with the generating-chambers by means of valved passages, the smoke-stack comm unicating with the gen crating-chambers by means of valved passages, a steam-gen orator, and steam-pipes leadin g from the generator into the respective generating-chambers, the portions of the pipes within the gencrating-chambers being coiled back and forth, substantially as described.

/ 5. The combination of afurnaee,independrefuse, and slanting hearths leading to the 10 ent gas-generating chambers communicating passages, substantially as described. with the furnace by means of valved passages, In testimony whereof I affix my signature in an exhaust-pipe COH'HHUHlGELUDg' with the genpresence of two Witnesses. 5 mating-chambers by means of valved pas- O T 1 r 1' D M l H. sages, asmoke-stack also communleatlng W1tl1 R H b I the generating-ehambers by means of valved Witnesses: passages, the said gel erating-ol'iambers each 0. L. STRAUB, being provided with outletpassages [or the V. F. SMITH. 

